Favorites: Raindow ft. Tedashii, Grizz ft. God’s Servant & Canon, Stones, Abandoned

Release Date: March 19, 2013

‘Vanity Fare’ is an album that I believe will grab the attention of the Christian Hip Hop community. With veterans such as Da’ Truth, Tedashii, Trip Lee, Sho Baraka, and more, this album has a refreshing blend on every track. Benjah offers an aggressive message with hard-hitting beats.

Benjah walks us through what the cost of vanity is and what we really should be focused on. The first track “Rainbows ft. Tedashii” starts out by saying that our flesh can’t get enough and is never satisfied. This track is vivid in describing how chasing our earthly motivations is nothing more than chasing a rainbow.

“Grizz ft. God’s Servant & Canon” is a hard-hitting track that blatantly motivates you. This track highlights working for Christ and what it takes to be a full time employee for God. The momentum from this track leads you right into “Action”. Benjah wants you to stop sitting on your hands and take God’s cue, that you should give your life to Him and spring into action.

“Stones” is a personal favorite of mine on this album. Benjah reflects on his past life (as I’m sure a lot of us do) and it brings back a lot of pain. After reminiscing, the hook comes in powerfully hard as Benjah screams “I’m not who I was, I got a new mind, I got a new grind…” and then he encourages us to drop our past in the illustration of dropping a stone.

One of the most personal tracks is “Abandoned”. This track really highlights how powerful God is after a lifetime of chasing your own vanity. It brings a sense of peace and reminds us that God never abandoned us even when we were running around in circles.

Afterthoughts:

Though this is not your typical hip hop album, I think that is the beauty of it. The variety of music on this album is outstanding. It has both aggressive and soft tracks which feature a different range of instrumentals. The bold message along with tender tracks really grab your emotions so you feel exactly what each track delivers.

Full tracklisting:

1. Rainbows f. Tedahshii
2. Love Signs f. Dillavou
3. Grizz f. God Servant & Canon
4. Action
5. Work
6. Left Right f. Beckah Shae & Trip Lee
7. Stones
8. Come With Me
9. Don’t Shoot f. Dillavou & Lee Green
10. Flowing f. Json & Eshon Burgundy
11. Abandoned
12. Last Call f. Da Truth, Sho Baraka & Propaganda

America, this is Colton Dixon. For 7 weeks Americans around the Nation heard Ryan Seacrest introduce the 21 year from Murfreesboro, TN. Colton Dixon was known for his flashy style but his impeccable stage presence and unique sound. Most of all Colton Dixon proclaimed his faith and love for Jesus Christ week after week. Despite not breaking past the Top 7 of Season 11 of American Idol Colton Dixon has made waves by being signed to EMI-CMG/Sparrow Records, performing on the Ellen Show, The Today Show, The Tonight Show and the latest Passion Conference. Colton has now released his debut project, “A Messenger” and has delivered a very solid effort that exceeded many expectations that he set on the show.

Usually I’m not really into this genre of music and I will start by saying this is not your typical Christian Rock project. Colton did something special with this. He made an amazing Christian album but also at the same time made it marketable for all to enjoy. One of Colton’s musical inspirations is The Fray and you can tell by the way he approaches his songs, inspirational songs that point you to Christ without necessarily screaming the name of Christ throughout the track. A brilliant track that truly showcases his songwriting capabilities is “Scars”. It talks about how scars reminds us of who we are, where we came from and lets us learn from our mistakes. But he goes on to tell us that Christ will be there to heal all scars no matter what they may be. Colton perfectly transitions into another standout track entitled, “Rise”. Once he again he delivers encouraging, inspiring and uplifting lyrics. He says, “When your heart is cold/And when you feel you’re letting go/You can rise above the world below/Rise tonight/You can rise tonight. Sometimes in life we do feel shut off to the world around us and knowing that no matter what to be reminded that we can rise is what keeps us pushing. My two favorite tracks where I feel that Colton stands out most is, the lead single, “You Are” where Colton expresses his love for God. He says, “you are the song I’m singing, the air I’m breathing, and the hope I am needing.” This is an amazing worship song and a great way to start off you devotion time. I also loved “Let Them See You”. This song embodies what our cry should be. Colton laments that in all we do that the people around us see Christ through us and become drawn to us. That is the goal of our Christian life. To be a light in dark places.

This project really doesn’t have too many misteps. Vocally Colton Dixon impresses as he showcases a pretty amazing vocal range. I would say that that lead track, “Noise” doesn’t fit the rest of the project just because of the high energy rock drive of the song. It’s less worship and more noise, no pun intended. But like I previously said overall this is an amazing album especially for a drbut project. I truly believe that the sky is the limit for young Colton Dixon and I feel that he will be a mainstay in the Christian Rock/Worship genre. Personally I think he is the 2nd coming of Chris Tomlin and feel that he can definitely match the success and longevity of Mr. Tomlin’s career. This is a CD that you will put on, not skip a track and want to play on repeat all day long. There’s something for everyone on here. “A Messenger” leaves us with a powerful message. It’s leaves us with a message of hope, inspiration and reminds us that no matter what, we always have Christ in our corner. This is the best purchase I have made in a long time and I hope that it blesses you like it did for me.

Royal.T @OfficialRoyalT

Social Club is a band that consists of F.E.R.N and Martymar. Their band encourages you to be different, awkwardly social, and overall a misft. This album touches on every aspect of what it feels like to be a Christian in this world. ‘Misfts’ is undoubtedly an important album for this current generation and based on the lyrics this wasn’t a mistake that became a hit.

‘Misfits’ hemmed and hawed at every emotion inside of me. It took me mentally back through time to real life situations where things were hard or I didn’t fit in. Social Club shows us in this album that it’s ok for us not to fit in and that Christ is the reason we move forward. This is an important message for the youth and even for adults to hear. The Christian walk is hard enough, yet alone living in this world. Hearts are broken, kids are bullied, relationships torn apart, pornography, and we both know the list can go on forever.

This album is a perfect example of artists being honest and willing to be transparent. Hip hop in general needs more transparency and Social Club was transparent on every track. The two tracks that stood out to me regarding transparency were S&G and Roller Coaster. Both these tracks highlight but also go into detail on some very rocky experiences from F.E.R.N and Martymar. Listening to Social Club’s previous music I knew they were real with their lyrics, but I had no idea how real they could get and I’m glad they pushed it that far.

Follow @socialxclub Follow @deathbymartymar Follow @followfern

Download the entire album here

 BONUS:

• Download Social Club’s ‘Royal Deluxe’ mixtape HERE
• Hear some of F.E.R.N’s older music like his 10 Piece mixtape series HERE
• Check out some of Martymar’s older projects HERE

“STRONGER” instantly made me feel an exuberance of maturity in both his music and his spiritual walk. Jor’dan displays a sense of confidence throughout the album about how he lives his life. This album gives us an inside look of how a Christian should live and how Jor’dan handles living in an unclean world. In “Stay Clean”, Jor’dan exemplifies that living in this world isn’t all about having swag. It’s about having a true relationship with Jesus Christ. He describes how he lives his life with “Jesus, beats, and fashion” and how to witness to people through his lifestyle.

Jor’dan does not disappoint in the variety of music that he can encompass on an entire album. With dance tracks like “Love if you wanna” to slowing it down in “Angel” to the progressive reggae-pop “Tropicana”, you discover the versatility that makes Jor’dan’s albums so unique.  His catchy hooks and raw production made this album both serious and fun.

The only downside I saw to this album was the brief use of autotune. Only a few tracks used autotune but it definitely masks Jor’dans smooth sound and instantly reminds us of a sound that is much emulated. However the use of autotune isn’t overpowering to the point of it being obnoxious and the production blends in with the vocals nicely.

The second half of the album really concentrates on Jor’dans’s relationship with the Lord and this is where Jor’dan goes deep with his feelings. In “Hands”, Jor’dan gives up all his troubles and shows us that all you need to do is lift up your hands to God. This is the ultimate surrendering song and Jor’dan does an amazing job of putting you in his place when things get hard. What I love about this song is Jor’dan shows someone how to surrender to God who may not understand when or how they should.

“STRONGER” will leave you satisfied and thankful to have heard that Jor’dan is stronger now than he was 3 years ago. In his debut album “Champion”, you find Jor’dan pouring his heart out as he searches for God and his desire to need His love. This is the perfect continuation where you truly see the growth in Jor’dan’s life. Jor’dan shows you what it’s like to be walking with the Lord for a while now and where he draws his confidence from. The song “I’m Down” portrays a vivid picture that Jor’dan will do whatever the Lord asks him to do. This sense of confidence was nowhere to be found in “Champion” and it is encouraging to see what true growth in Jesus Christ looks like.

Purchase this album on iTunes

Follow @WheresJor_Dan

Find Jor’dan Armstrong on Facebook

Favorites: Be Relentless, Unstoppable, MayDay, Go With Me
Best Production: Unstoppable, MayDay, Inside Look

1. Intro

Viktory kicks off the album by sharing, what I feel, is a common misconception for many people: being a Christian means life gets easier. Any Christian knows that this is not the case. In many ways, life gets harder. But there is one constant: Jesus. No matter how bad our circumstances become, He is always there. His love makes it worth it all. I like this intro. I like the emotional, cinematic feel of the music and I like the clear, simple message. Nice intro.

2. Be Relentless

“Yayuhhh!” Viktory goes really hard with his signature style on Be Relentless. It’s clear to me right away that he is a man on a mission. It really doesn’t feel like he has a care in the world about what people think of him. He has a message to share and he is going to be “relentless” in doing so. Viktory’s delivery is on point. His delivery and style have always been pretty distinct to me, but on Be Relentless, he adds that extra “it”. Overall good track.

 3. Oh Yeah (feat. Trini)

Oh Yeah has a dope little riff to it. I was feeling Viktory’s lyrics and rhyme scheme on this track. We hear our first feature of the album, Trini. I think she sounded great. The song title and hook were a bit simple, but I don’t think it was too too bad. Trini’s runs make it better. I like how Vik had Trini add a little dub on his verses. It added a nice touch and element to the track. There were a couple things that made Oh Yeah work for me that, without them being present, I don’t think I would have liked this track at all. It was a nice choice of beat, how Vik incorporated Trini in the song was good, and he stayed consistent with good lyricism. A combination of these things allowed me to overlook the other elements that I weren’t feeling so much.

4. God Over Everything (feat. ZG)

One thing is for certain, Viktory loves ZG as much as I do. God Over Everything is the first of three tracks that ZG features on. Let me just get this out now so that I don’t have to speak in-depth about it on the next tracks he’s on. ZG is the real deal. The dude is so incredibly talented. Having personally worked with him, his talent blew me away. Get used to seeing his name a lot. On God Over Everything, he lays down a simple hook that is not over the top in it’s dynamic, but he still makes it his own with his great ability to harmonize and stick runs. Really listen to a ZG hook and more times than not, there’s a lot more going on there than you first realize. Viktory reveals some of his past to us on God Over Everything. He shares that he is committed to his walk with Christ. Who else would we turn to in our moments of pain and hurt? God is the answer over everything. The beat on God Over Everything was pretty good, but the artists made this track.

P.S. I caught that TNT reference Vik! You wrong for that one bro! lol

5. The Fa’ Realer (feat. Fedel)

The Fa’ Realer was the first track on this album that I’m really not feeling. From the beginning, it was a bit gimmicky for me. I get the message that Vik was trying to portray. The message really wasn’t the issue for me. It’s a fun track. Vik makes a lot of shout outs and shares some truth. I wasn’t too fond of the beat. It’s also not that Viktory doesn’t go hard. I really like Viktory speeds it up and then slows it down shortly after. The whole track just felt a bit off to me. I can’t seem to put my finger on exactly what it is about this track. I also don’t feel like Fedel brought much an added element to this track on the hook. There was some good and bad on The Fa’ Realer, but it’s not one of my favorites.

6. Do It for the City (feat. Canton Jones & Andy Mineo)

Do It for the City is a nice track on this album. I really like Canton Jones on the hook. His style is just different because he doesn’t approach this hook as a pure singer i.e. ZG, but he brings much more to it than just rapping a hook. I like how the beat drops for the hook. This chorus is a nice rally cry. Viktory laid down a good verse, although, I prefer the beat in the first 8 bars than when it changes up. Andy really surprised me on his verse. I was expecting him to go off with speed like Viktory did. But that’s Andy for you, you never know what he’s going to do. Instead, he came in real chill and laid back. Andy Mineo always has some great rhymes and he didn’t let down in that area on this track. However, I’m a bit surprised that I feel the way I do because, quite honestly, I’ve always been biased in feeling that Andy can do no wrong in my opinon. I found myself waiting for Andy to go off with more energy. Don’t get me wrong…he went off with those lyrics. I just didn’t feel that he was as into it as I’m used to hearing. But that’s strictly my opinion. I’m a harsh critic of Andy because I know he’s capable of greatness. I like the combination of artists on Do It for the City.

7. Relentless Radio (Interlude)

Maybe I’m completely missing it, but I don’t really understand why this brief interlude was included. I’m all for interludes. I have no problem with them. I just don’t feel that this interlude, Relentless Radio, served much of a meaningful purpose. If I’m missing something, I apologize.

8. God Is Amazing (feat. ZG & KJ-52)

ZG sounded great on the hook and showed some of his range. At first, because this track is much different than what Viktory usually does, I was a bit wary. After the hook and the first half of VIktory’s verse, I was feeling it though. I was pleasantly surprised. But then it took a not so great turn for me. I really didn’t like where the beat went on the back half of Vik’s verse. It sounded really poppy in almost a corny way. It was those synths that did it for me. KJ-52 though. I really enjoyed his verse. And I loved it even more because it was so short and to the point. I wasn’t looking forward to hearing him rap over that second half of the beat. ZG definitely fit much better with those pop synths than did Viktory. It didn’t feel as out of place with a singer and it wasn’t as noticeable and obvious to me. I liked Viktory’s last verse much more on God Is Amazing. Again, Viktory has done a good job at strategically choosing multiple features to make a song come together.

9. Light of Life (feat. Cheyenne Sanchez)

Light of Life gets back to what Viktory does best. He changed it up and came in slow and staggered with his delivery and then speeded it up. His lyrics were strong on this track also. I really like the beat and the chorus is the best part of the song for me. I think Viktory did a great job with the hook. It’s not a complex hook, but what made it good was the pairing with the beat. This is the first time I’ve heard Cheyenne Sanchez and she sounded very good on this track. I actually would have liked to heard more of her on this track in the form of a bridge. The song kind of ended abruptly and I wish Vik would have utilized her a little more. I would like to have heard her range a little more. I like the encouraging message Viktory portrayed in Light of Life. I encourage you to go back and really listen to it in-depth and try to relate to him on a spiritual level, paralleling his lyrics to your own life.

10. Unstoppable (feat. T. Haddy, Bizzle)

Woah…just go ahead and play that back. Man! These fellas killed it on Unstoppable. I’m not sure where to start. Okay…T. Haddy sounded awesome on the hook. The dude’s got dope style man. Viktory set the bar and came in firing off bars. The exchange to Bizzle was just as good, surprisingly. I don’t say surprisingly because I was expecting any less from Bizzle. The dude is a beast. But Vik just went so hard it was difficult to initially believe that Bizzle could match it. But man… Back to T. Haddy on the hook. I just really enjoyed hearing him sing this hook. This beat’s crazy. The song’s crazy because it has so many different sides to it. I really like the change up in the beat when Vik comes back in, then it picks up, and slows back down again. That was a dope transition. Unstoppable is my favorite track of the album so far. And that’s feat in itself because my favorite tracks on an album usually don’t have a slow hook.

11. MayDay (feat. ZG)

MayDay is a really good track with an outstanding message. Viktory went pretty deep on this track and I applaud him for it. History buffs and Bible scholars should love this one. Or if you’re like me and just really appreciate learning from the past, you’ll enjoy this track also. Viktory’s second verse on MayDay is, in my opinion, his best verse of the entire album. MayDay touched on so many different areas that it’s essential you go back and listen to it multiple times. Viktory brought incredible truth on MayDay and made it a very strong track. I really liked a lot of the different elements on this track. Viktory used his effects well on this song. ZG sounded great and I loved what he did with the scales of “mayday”s. Great execution of artist collaboration, beat choice, song structure, and message.

12. Inside Look (feat. Sho Baraka & J.R.)

High Society in the building! Inside Look starts off strong with a real nice beat that has a cool, changing structure. I liked how Viktory transitioned in also. J.R. is a dope artist. Everything he touches seems to turn to gold. He’s one of the most artistic individuals I’ve heard in hip hop and R&B lately. Having him on this hook was an excellent decision. As is usually the case on features. HiSoc sticks together. I loved Sho Baraka’s verse in this song. He showed some real vulnerability and transparency. I loved his honest heart on this track, the good and bad. I really enjoyed Inside Look.

13. Broken Promises (feat. Pastor Ad3, Dre Murray, Json & Kelly Kelz)

Broken Promises is a great arrangement. I cannot stress enough how impressed I am with Viktory’s choices of features. Broken Promises is a unique old-school feel to it yet current at the same time. I really like the feel of the song during the verses. Both Dre Murray and Json gave their unique perspectives on Broken Promises. Pastor AD3 and Kelly Kelz are a great team. One of my favorite songs is Runaway off of his album. I like how Viktory chose to let the song play out. Often times, I feel artists don’t get listeners enough time to think about what the song has stated when they end it and move on to the next track so quickly. I appreciate Viktory taking that risk of the song being too long and letting it flow naturally. Real nice track.

14. Go With Me (feat. McKenzie Lockhart)

Go With Me is one of my favorite tracks on R4. I was really ministered to through this track and it spoke to me personally. I love the message and the chorus was very well-written. This beat was perfect for the message. I’m really feeling the truth that Viktory is sharing on this album. A lot of his tracks make you think and aren’t shallow. What I think Viktory can improve upon is incorporating bridges are different elements to his songs instead of just repeating the chorus multiple times. The vocalists he has had on this album have been really good. I’d like to see him give them a little more free range. McKenzie Lockhart sounded really good on this track and I liked her fills at the end of the track. I wish she could have gotten the opportunity to do a little more.

15. Relentless Radio (What Is R4?)

Instead of editing my previous comments on the last interlude, I’m going to keep it like it is because that is still my initial reaction and I think many people probably felt the same way. After doing some research online, I figured out that Hot 103.5 is an actual radio station located in Huntsville, AL. I didn’t know that though. That’s the issue I had with the previous interlude. I was completely lost as to knowing if it was just a gimmick created for an interlude or not. To the best of my knowledge, Viktory was a guest on their praise and worship segment of the station. This interlude is much better because he uses it to actually explain the meaning behind R4. As to if this was a real caller or not, I still don’t know!

16. Wherever I Go

Viktory takes it back to a hard banger in Wherever I Go produced by GeeDA. GeeDA always produces some hard beats. Wherever I Go kind of lost my attention after a while. The whole song kind of sounded all the same. That sounds weird because it’s like, “Well of course…it should.” But, there was nothing that stood out to me on this track. It wasn’t that Vik was off with his verses or the hook was bad. The beat was pretty good too. I just wasn’t feeling it as much as some of the other tracks.

17. U Know What It Is (feat. PRo)

RMG representing as PRo rolls in to take on U Know What It Is with Vik. I kind of like what they did with PRo’s verse by bringing it back and chopping it up/ad-libbing over it. The hook made me move in a slight way. Y’all are like, “What are you talking about?” I’ll explain…it made me subtly nod my head a bit. It wasn’t enough to make me feel real good about it, but the way it was worded, in a staggered way, gave it a nice flow.  This wasn’t Viktory or PRo’s strongest verses however and I’m a big PRo fan.

18. R4 (Relentless 4ever)

R4, the title track, was one of Viktory’s strongest showings on the album. For the reason I liked Be Relentless, I liked R4. Viktory didn’t hold back and he went off. I think Vik is best when he’s rapping with a sense of a chip on his shoulder and a determined mindset to relay a specific message that he is extremely passionate about. *Yayuhhh* “RRRR4444!”

19. R4 (Remix) [feat. R-Swift, Swoope, GI Magus, Vice Vrsa, Jin & Bizzle]

I like the combination of artists on the R4 (Remix). Swoope though man. This dude always comes so hard with his lyrics. I couldn’t help but smile when I heard Jin on the track. Love that dude’s work! Bizzle went off like always. Wow…I’ve never heard Vice Vrsa but he went in on that joint! Nice track!

20. Featured Emcee Contest Cypha

The R4 Featured Emcee Contest Cypha was put on by DaSouth.com in collaboration with Viktory. On this track are some of the winners voted in by fans and Viktory and his team.

Afterthoughts

R4 gives the listener a little bit of everything. Tracks like Be Relentless, Unstoppable, and R4 give the listener their fill of the banger genre. While tracks like Light of Life, MayDay, and Go With Me really engage the listener in a deep way, causing them to evaluate life.

My favorite aspect of this album is Viktory’s incorporation of features. Just hearing the number, one may jump to the conclusion that an album with 22 features is too much. However, it worked for Vik. The reason it worked is because he has such a good blend of features that complimented each other. I could go into an elaborate dissertation about each grouping, etc. but just know that I really enjoyed the features on this album and it is one of the main reasons for it receiving a high score.

I enjoyed 90% of this album. That says a lot for anyone. To put it simply, we aren’t all going to like every single style, genre, etc. I feel that Viktory succeeded in the areas where he took risks and branched out of his comfort zone. I feel that he shined in the areas that he is already established in. The reason you will enjoy R4 is this: you could not even enjoy Viktory personally (but I really think you will) and still enjoy a vast amount of this album because of all the features. The production was consistently good. It was hard to choose between the tracks because all of them sounded close to the same (good). Great job Vik and great album.

Follow @ViktoryR4

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Favorites: I’m Good, Fallin’, Beautiful Life, Love On Display
Best Production: iLove, Heart Problem, Good Thing

1. New Dreams (feat. Sho Baraka & J.R.)

Seems like a formula to success these days is a J.R. hook. I am a huge fan of his and his unique soulful voice fits perfect on this song. The biggest reward for me on this track is Sho Baraka‘s verse. Using a rhyming scheme that is reminiscent of Young Money artist Drake. Sho effectively spits what the good life truly is compared to what others see it as. The line, “True Religion in my genes so stop guessing” is brilliant and is just a small portion of what the MC’s have to offer lyrically on this track. The overall message of this song is, once you submit to Christ your dreams will change. You will find new purpose. I can identify with this song. Great song but on the downside I feel like this song doesn’t flow well with the rest of the album. Somewhat sounds like this is a left over track from his previous effort Between Two Worlds. Overall solid start to this project though!

2. Robot

Robot was the first single that I heard and I immediately fell in love with the production. This is the type of track that you can bump while cruising down the freeway and believe the bass hits hard. Production wise this is a pretty tight track. Lyrically Trip does a good job articulating the message of not being a robot who conforms to the world. The repetition of the hook gets a little bit annoying at times but I don’t think it takes too much away from an otherwise solid track. This is definitely a song that the younger crowd can enjoy and appreciate.

3. I’m Good (feat. Lecrae)

I’m Good is one of my favorite songs on The Good Life. It delivers both production wise and lyrically. It hits on many topics such as, dying to self, going through trials, tribulations and persecution. Lecrae and Trip tell us no matter what comes against and no matter how many people attack us if we are walking with Jesus we are GOOD! Reminds me of 1 John 4:4 when it says, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world”. We will be persecuted for living for Christ but what matters is that God will always have his hands of protection around us. For that I can say, “I’m Good”.

4. War

Trip slows it down a little on War but continues to produce lyrically. This song possesses some nice R&B-style melodies in the chorus that contribute to a very chilled/laid back song for its provocative title. The chorus, “When life and death go to battle, ain’t no tellin’ what’ll happen” really gets your mind thinking about the daily battle we as Christians go through. This track is somewhat forgettable when you compare it to the rest of The Good Life but by no means does it disappoint!

5. Fallin’ (J. Paul)

Trip Lee definitely brings a little conviction to the table with this song. I can identify with what he is ministering on this track. Everyone at times gets caught up in sin and falls to temptation. I know for me it’s always been women who “get me”. This song isn’t boxed in just to sexual sin or lust, it can really be related to any sin or temptation that we may face. Trip effectively illustrates that no matter what we do we can still fall to our knees and submit to Christ. Why? Because he died for our sins on the cross. J. Paul’s smooth hook fits perfectly with this song. It isn’t over the top and it really makes you reflect on the fall and then the subsequent submission! I’m a big production head and the strings in the background of this song really adds to the emotions of the lyrics.

6. iLove

This is one of the best tracks production wise on this project. I love how the production slowly builds till it really takes off during the chorus. What Trip does lyrically shows that he is a heavyweight MC who can hold his own against any other MC whether they are a Christian rapper or not. Trip compares his technilogical device to a girl! He further illustrates the dangers of technology and how it can become an addiction to us. In the age of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram we can find ourselves spending less and less time away from God and away from real people and relationships. Nothing more can really be said because Trip effectively compares and contrasts this issue in this song. This may be one of the biggest risks of The Good Life but with great risk comes big payoffs and this song definitely paid off for Trip.

7. Know Me

Have you ever heard of a filler song? To me that is what this was. It kind of disappoints me because up to this point I haven’t even thought about hitting the skip button. Seems that this track somewhat has no clear focus and I think the production is sub-par. This isn’t a bad song but to me it really doesn’t fit with the rest of the project!

8. One Sixteen (feat. KB & Andy Mineo)

The only negative thing about this track is the hook isn’t anything memorable. But what shines here are the verses delivered from KB & Andy Mineo who are two of the fastest rappers out today! Anyone unfamiliar with the 116 reference it comes from Romans 1:16 which says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Reach Records artists’ have always embraced this and this song further illustrates why they do what they do. This in addition to Robot are definitely the certified “bangers” of The Good Life.

9. Heart Problem

“Money, Sex and Power” are the first words you hear and may surprise you coming from a Christian artist like Trip Lee. Trip uses this song to explain his stance on certain issues and respond to criticism that he has received over the years. This is a daring effort that could take negative feedback but I’m glad Trip went this direction and wish I would see more artists do this. Trip explains that things are good or bad based on your heart. Money, sex, and power can be good if brought about by God and good motives, while they can be detrimental if your heart’s in the wrong places. I really feel that he does a great job putting things into perspective! In addition to the lyrics, the beats are solid, complemented by an awesome delivery by Trip.

10. Take Me There (feat. Jimmy Needham)

I’ve never been the biggest fan of Jimmy Needham so I really wasn’t too sure how much I was going to like this song. Jimmy brings in a hook that is reminiscent of Gavin Degraw that fits in perfectly with this feel good track. Trip delivers a real funky bridge which adds the extra flavor to an already enjoyable song. This song is nothing over the top but the message is potent. As Christians we should strive for heaven. Heaven should always be the habit of our heart! This song definitely outshines some of Trip and Jimmy’s previous collaborations!

11. Beautiful Life (feat. V. Rose)

I’m going to start off by saying that V. Rose has one of the most beautiful voices out there right now! She is amazing and I feel that this song wouldn’t have been as great without her. These are the topics I like to hear talked about. I’m so sick of hearing a whole album about, “how hard you stunt for God”, “how holy you are” and the list goes on. No one talks about real issues that real people struggle with. I love how Trip addresses both the female and male perspective and then ministers to those who have had abortions and offers freedom for the bondage of that decision. I personally can’t relate to this song but I know it will speak to many and deliver them from the weight of what they carry around.

12. Fantasy (feat. Suzy Rock)

I knew that Suzy Rock was a beast on the mic when it came to being a MC but I never knew that she could sing also. Well if you’ve listened to this song you know she possesses smooth vocals that compliment this song perfectly. Trip returns to the theme of The Good Life on here and compares and contrasts what the world sees as the good life and what the kingdom sees what the good life is. This is a cautionary song against chasing the tangible things of this world. Ultimately, Trip explains that Jesus is the only thing which can fill the void in our soul, that He is the true reality. Reality isn’t what it seems. Wow. I know I’ve said this a few times during my review but this also is one of my favorite songs on the album.

13. Love On Display (feat. Andy Mineo)

Andy Mineo returns to assisst on another song on this track. I love how this song perfectly flows in right after Fantasy. We finally get to hear the voice that captured everyone’s attention on Lecrae’s “Background”. Andy Mineo a.k.a C-Lite takes a break from rapping and delivers a much anticipated hook with his amazing vocals. I think this is the one time on the album that the chorus actually outshines the verses, which is an impressive feat when you have a lyricist like Trip who is at the A-game that we have heard throughout the album. These two effectively illustrate how Christ showed us how much he loves us. Nothing more can be written about this other than this pairing will leave you thinking and most possibly on your knees thanking God.

14. For My Good (feat. Jai)

For this song and Robot I can respect Trip Lee for his ability to reach for a different sound as he embraces a very dance/futuristic sound. If you are looking for that futuristic sound there’s no one better to bring in for the hook than Jai. One setback I have about this song is that it sounds very close to the Lecrae song which Jai sang on, “God Is Enough” off of the Rehab album. Not sure how well this fits with the other songs but nevertheless it provides something different to the listeners.

15. Good Thing (feat. Leah Smith)

I love brass so I obviously love this track. Production on this one is pretty solid and Trip’s vocals fit perfectly. I’m encouraged by artists like Da T.R.U.T.H. (Cherished) P-Dub (Angel) and now Trip Lee on this track. It’s the perfect love song to his wife and it further illustrates that when God bless us with a wife he blesses us with something great and we should cherish it. Not sure if this is the best track to end the project with as I feel the finale track should be epic, but this is still a great song!

Afterthoughts

Overall I really feel that Trip Lee has secured himself as one of the Top 5 rappers in Christian Hip-Hop with this project. I’ve always been a fan of his music but The Good Life is on a whole new level. There are a few tracks on here such as War and Know Me that feel out of place but that is only because of the high quality and perfect flow of the project as a whole. This is a project that I encourage you to share with everyone you come into contact with. I look forward to seeing where Trip Lee goes next with his music. He is definitely anointed man of God and I ask that you all keep him prayed up and covered as he walks through his ministry. Here is a pitch to the brass at Reach Records. How about you show Kanye and Jay how it’s really done and have Lecrae and Trip Lee do a full album together. Well my time is up. Hope that this album blesses you as much as it blessed me!

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Favorites: Need an Answer, Off the Edge, and Stop the World from Spinning (feat. Shonlock).

Best Production: Red, No Walking Away, Need an Answer, and Stop the World from Spinning (feat. Shonlock).

1. Red (feat. This’l)

“Sound the alarm!” Rhema Soul gets the album started with their title track, Red. From start to finish, they share a message of a holy anger. They make it clear that, as Christians, we should not be okay or indifferent with the sin of this world. We exhibit righteous anger when what angers us and what angers God becomes one in the same. With the right attitude and motive, anger is a tool for righteousness. The key is that, if our outrage results in bringing others into a loving and restorative relationship with Christ, a deep, holy anger is extremely beneficial. We are called to share the Gospel with all, showing people their true worth. I absolutely love the This’l feature and the dynamic he brings to this track. All four artists spit well on this track and the production was high quality.

2. No Walking Away

Rhema Soul urges us to look at the big picture in No Walking Away. Perspective is the key theme of this track. They prompt us to keep fighting. There will be a day when we no longer have to go through the toils of this world (Revelation 21:4). Living with the end in mind helps us to put the present into proper perspective. As I listened to this track James 1:2-6 and Proverbs 18:2,10 came to mind. You never know who is watching how you react to opposition. You never know who’s life is being impacted because your faithfulness and obedience. As Rhema Soul transitions from the first track to this one, they show off their diversity and range as artists. Following Red with this track was a very good strategy.

3. Danger

Rhema Soul gets pretty aggressive in Danger. They are upfront in stating that different shouldn’t automatically be labeled in a negative light. People are oftentimes afraid of what they don’t understand. Rhema Soul is embracing their unique identities and talents on this track. It’s really difficult walking a fine line between strength/confidence and humbleness. There are many moments in this track that feel self-exalting, but honestly, I think that’s kind of the point. Let me be clear in explaining why. We know where our real power comes from. That is the only reason we can stand so confident in who we are and what we are capable of. By the power of Jesus Christ, we are dangerous. Rhema Soul, as should we, recognizes their identity and potential in Christ.

4. War (feat. BenJah)

War pushes us to seek the Answer to our problems. Today’s world is lined with a lot of sin and destruction to say the least. I love how K-Nuff starts off this song. It’s a beautiful picture representing that we are all in need of a Savior, in need to be rescued and elevated to a higher land. Juan Love continues on to state that all of us at one time were lost and none of us are too far gone for His life-changing grace and mercy to penetrate. “Where all my ladies at?!” Butta P is so needed in hip-hop today. Men simply cannot proclaim a message to the women like a woman can. Butta P spits a 16 that all women can relate to in some form, shape, or fashion. BenJah fits in well in this style of song and added a good feel to the chorus.

5. Need an Answer

Rhema Soul announces that they’re “all in” with Need an Answer. I really like this track. The members of Rhema Soul show a lot of transparency, honesty, and personal need in this song and, for that, I respect them. That’s not seen a whole lot in today’s culture. They show concern, uncertainty, and an overall need for clarity and answers. I was reminded of Mark 9:24. We do believe, but sometimes we need the Holy Spirit to help us in the areas of our lives where we struggle with unbelief and doubt. We must rely on Christ because there are so many pressures put on us. Butta P describes this by speaking on being an example and pushing others back to the Reason we are who we are. Need an Answer is one of my favorite tracks on this album. The production is on point and I love the overall sound and full-circle feel of the vocals in correlation to the music.

6. Off the Edge

Rhema Soul doesn’t have to sacrifice good hip hop just because they want to rock out. They show this talent off in Off the Edge. I could make a lot of comparisons to other artists because of this track, but it wouldn’t do Rhema Soul justice. One of the first things I noticed about this track is that there are a lot of small aspects of the song that make it really good. I thought they did an excellent job with background vocals on this track. I love the anthem feel they produce by singing the chants throughout the chorus. They also did an excellent job of balancing singing and rapping. Off the Edge is one of those songs that I just bobbed head to furiously with my scrunch face on. It made me want to take on the world. Leggo!

7. So Beautiful (feat. Jai)

We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). We are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). When’s the last time you looked in the mirror and reminded yourself of that? Rhema Soul and Jai remind us of our beauty in So Beautiful. Jai has grown a lot and she seems to be better every time I hear her on something new. Thank you Butta P for leading our young ladies and reminding us all of who we are and how God sees us (men, this is for you too). Again, I love the vocals at the end of the choruses. Rhema Soul did a good job at focusing on not neglecting the details of their tracks.

8. On My Way (feat. Ryan Stevenson)

Rhema Soul revisits the journey that is pushing through struggle with On My Way. They really left me wanting more of the same after the verses start with that steady snare. It’s obvious that Rhema Soul wanted to relay the message of endurance and growth through trials. While the message is always needed and can never get old, another track of such similarity wasn’t what I was looking for at this point on the album. I must say, Butta P pushed me through this song. Up until her verse, I wasn’t feeling this track as much as I had the previous ones. It’s not that she said anything drastically different from the theme of the song, but she’s just so good at what she does. Her lyricism and delivery kept me engaged and raised my intrigue in this track.

9. Celebration

“Airybody jump around! Airybody jump around!” I celebrated within the first couple seconds of Celebration when I heard that Rhema Soul was transitioning back to hip hop for this track. This track was needed to change things up a bit. Butta P…enough said. Listen, if your first couple bars have a MJ reference in them, you’re already winning with me! But seriously, Butta P is fierce! K-Nuff seems to excel on more hip hop-oriented tracks. He has a nice sound to his delivery and persona. If you’re not careful, you can miss the message while listening to the rhythm K-Nuff spits to on this beat. He rallies the troops to community and you can’t spell community without “unity”. I love what he relays in saying that basically, yes, we are called to be great at what we do, but our accomplishments are not ours to own. The beat was dope. The lyrics were nice. And, while I don’t usually like hooks that repeat so much like this one did, it was fitting and worked well. Nice track. Now, one more time, “Airybody jump around!”

10. Break Out

Rhema Soul calls us to progress in Break Out. “Life is a process and I couldn’t agree more. With a lot of progress, there comes a lot of detours.” Dope lyric by K-Nuff. In life, we can’t be afraid of the process that requires patience. The key is not staying stagnant, but continuing to grow. K-Nuff continues to speak on not allowing sin to hold us back. We have to break out of those boxes of lies and condemnation that the enemy tries to trap us in. We have to move on and stop looking back.

11. Not Forgotten

Another reminder is issued to us with Not Forgotten. I thought Butta P worked well on this hook. The beat was nice too. I specifically liked the way it opened up in the beginning and then how it changed subtly in K-Nuff’s verse. The harmonizing of the different vocals at the end of the track was a cool touch. Not Forgotten reminded me of Psalm 139 and how intricately He knows us and thinks of us. We can never escape His presence. He has a well-crafted and intentional plan for our lives that holds true even in the moments where we feel forgotten and unused or even when it seems like God is using everyone else in amazing ways but not you. I enjoyed how Butta P split her verse up into more of a story. Sometimes it takes less effort to simply relate than to learn. Psalm 25:6-7 reads, “Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.” You are not forgotten!

12. Moment in Time

Moment in Time has a unique feel to it. The way the beat hits, I was almost hoping they’d just spit all the way through without a chorus. It’s one of those beats that an artist can really go in on. Juan Love opens up with tackling the issue that it takes a lot of hard work and grind to be successful at what you do. K-Nuff goes in on what he’s learned on this long road, his growth, and an encouragement to keep pushing. Butta P comes in with her usual energy and attitude. She’s phenomenal at bringing a fresh, different mood and delivery to each track. This track was personal. Each artist shared something a little different.

13. Stop the World from Spinning (feat. Shonlock)

Stop the World from Spinning is another favorite off this album. I was very interested when I saw that Shonlock was featured on this track and quite anxious to see how they would use him and what he would bring to the song. He was a perfect fit for this track. He absolutely killed this hook. Stop the World from Spinning exhibited Rhema Soul at their best. The way both Butta P and K-Nuff entered the song was smooth and fresh. Stop the Word from Spinning was also my favorite track for Juan Love. I thought his delivery and message in this track was his best of the album. Rhema Soul threw a sick little dubstep section in there with Shonlock and Butta P. The only complaint I have on this track is that I was totally waiting for Butta P to come back in on this track and complete it with a killer 16. But, that’s just personal opinion! This track was a great way to close out the album. Nice work!

Afterthoughts

Rhema Soul’s fourth full album, Red, shows off a wide range of style and music. I personally like how they arranged the tracks. The album went back and forth from hip hop to the rock/pop sound with a nice flow as to not get burnt out with one genre. The album had good features with my favorites being This’l on Red and Shonlock on Stop the World from Spinning. I really like the blend of different talents this group possesses. Every artist in this group brings something unique to the table. That was quite evident on this album. If I had to critique this album in any way, the only aspect I would bring up is that a few of the songs were very similar in message. However, this was probably not an error, but intentional on Rhema Soul’s part to contribute to the overall theme of the album. Rhema Soul’s Red is a really good album and they will only get better in the future. The future is quite bright. Let’s all join together in prayer for this group, that God continues to bless and use them for the Kingdom!

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BONUS: Rhema Soul Behind The Mic Interview